Charity begins at home. Here as well, there are people that aspires to the wisdom and moderation that will preserve the rights of all parties in the political process.

 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

6 of July, 2013

 

We are not concerned about Egypt and its people who have proven it can’t be abused and it won’t kneel to an oppressive ruler ever since the glorified Revolution of 25 of January. The phases Egyptian revolution is going through are normal. All revolutions have gone through the same road. In the end, the Egyptian people will be victorious and will enforce their own will and decisions.

On the fourth of July, 2013, the Saudi government sent the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, a letter following his appointment as the interim President of Egypt.

“I appeal to Allah Almighty to help you to shoulder the responsibility laid on your shoulder to achieve the hopes of our sisterly people of the Arab Republic of Egypt. At the same time, we strongly shake hands with the men of all the armed forces, represented by General Abdulfattah Al-Sisi, who managed to save Egypt at this critical moment from a dark tunnel God only could apprehend its dimensions and repercussions, but the wisdom and moderation came out of those men to preserve the rights of all parties in the political process.”

Charity begins at home; hence, calls for political participation can not be credible when they’re coming from a country that doesn’t have a constitution, a parliament, an independent judiciary system, a civil society, a free media, nor a fair distribution of wealth; a country whose jails are full of prisoners of conscience who are human rights and political reform activists.

Citizens, especially the youth, have showed clear maturity, awareness and ambition while keeping up with the Arab revolutions on social networks to participate in public affairs and be part of a movement that will engage them in the political decision-making. Therefore, it is better for the ruling family to take the initiative to achieve these ambitions in order to preserve its position like the Moroccan experience after the Arab Spring.

Therefore we remind the Saudi government of the demands that achieve the public hopes of political participation and equitable wealth management – which were repeatedly demanded by the reformists – namely:

● An elected parliament according to the International norms which is summed up in: representation, making legislations, control and questionability over the government.

● Constitution “social contract” that is driven from Quran and Sunnah, which ensures: the people as the source of authority, the protection of civil and political rights of everyone, the separation between the three branches of government and the definition of their functions, and the provision of the civil society organizations, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom and independence of media, freedom of assembly, and defining the role of the ruling family and its allowances.

● The election of Governors and local councils.

● The Prime Minister must be elected by the people, his government should be accountable to Parliament, and the ruling family’s power ought to be limited to the throne and crown only.

● Replacing the Council of Senior Scholars from an appointed council to an elected one from all scholars and clerics.

● Establishing a law for civil institutions that guarantees their freedom and independence from the government. It must ensure the transparency concerning the sources of their income. The civil institutions shall never be banned unless by an independent judicial order.

● There should be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media unless by an independent judicial order.

● Most important of all, the government must release all prisoners of conscience as a gesture of good faith and seriousness about real reforms.

These demands are not a luxury; they are the people’s rights, and an urgent need to stabilize the country and protect its future. It is a priority for a broad segment of society, especially the youth. The free and fair popular referendum will show the extent of public support of these demands.

 

Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association